Moving the iTunes Music Folder

My laptop’s hard drive can only take about 300 GB, so when I bought an external hard drive, my huge iTunes files were the first to be moved off my laptop. However, moving iTunes files and ensuring that all files subsequently downloaded go to the new location can take a bit of work. Here’s how:

If you’re transferring your files to an external hard drive, make sure that it is powered up and connected to your computer before opening iTunes. Once you’ve opened iTunes, click Edit and then Preferences. Click the Advanced tab. Make sure the Keep iTunes Media folder organized checkbox is checked, and click Change.

Now, navigate to where you would like to move your files to. Click Select Folder or OK once you’re done.

Your files will not move into their new positions by themselves – you have to do this yourself. It’s easy – click File, Library and Organize Library. Check Consolidate Files.

Once the process has been completed, go to the new location of your iTunes media to ensure that it is there – you may like to play one just to play it safe. Now, navigate to the former location of your iTunes music and delete everything from iTunes there except files titled iTunes Library.itl and iTunes Music Library.xml. You will still need those.